Golf practice device including stance coordinator

ABSTRACT

A device to permit the practice of golf strokes both indoors and outdoors by striking a spring-loaded object representing the golf ball and including an adjustable arm including a footpad at its free end for controlling the stance of the golfer and holding the device in place on club impact. An indicia diagram is provided on the device to indicate to the golfer a yardage assimilation of his stroke.

United States Patent Inventors Rudy R. Becker 1660 W. Bell Road, Phoenix, Ariz. 85023; Jacob Schriner, 2076 E. Charleston, Phoenix, Ariz. 85022 Appl. No. 22,247

Filed Mar. 24, 1970 Patented Dec. 14, 1971 GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE INCLUDING STANCE COORDINATOR 5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

u.s. Cl 273/197 R, 273/184 B, 273/187 R, 273/200 B Int. Cl A6313 69/36 Field of Search 273/ l 83,

[56] ReierenEeE Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,169,022 2/1965 Kretsinger 73/379 TB 3,350,101 10/1967 Bishop et al. 273/187 RX 3,383,921 5/1968 Palmer 73/379 TB 3,550,946 12/1970 Menendez 273/187 R FOREIGN PATENTS 692,184 8/1964 Canada 73/379 TB Primary Examiner-George .1. Mario Attorney-Warren F. B. Lindsley ABSTRACT: A device to permit the practice of golf strokes both indoors and outdoors by striking a spring-loaded object representing the golf ball and including an adjustable arm including a footpad at its free end for controlling the stance of the golfer and holding thedevice in place on club impact. An indicia diagram is provided on the device to indicate to the golfer a yardage assimilation of his stroke.

PATENTED DEC I 4 I971 INVENTORS. P00) R 5ECKER-- y Jqcoa SCI/R/IVER.

ELI-.1

ATTORNEY GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE INCLUDING STANCE COORDINATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to sports and more particularly to a device for practicing golf strokes.

1. Field of the Invention Heretofore, it has been necessary in practicing golf swings and strokes to do these operations outside, particularly when long forceful drive strokes were to be practiced. It has also been difficult with prior art devices to control the stance of the golfer during repeated swings while still measuring the degree of accuracy and strength of the stroke.

2. Description of the Prior Art In the past, most golf-practicing devices have been of limited benefit and have not been adapted to main fairway drive strokes or else required an elaborate practice court and attendants to pick up balls and maintain the operation at an outside arena. Further, prior art golf practice devices adapted for indoor use have not coordinated the stance of the golfer with the ball and have not been adjustable to compensate for the different stances of golfers of different physical builds.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention claimed a new and improved golf-practicing device is provided which not only measures the accuracy and strength of the stroke but is adapted to control the stance of the golfer and his position with respect to the point of contact of the club head with the simulated ball. The means for aligning and controlling the stance of the golfer may be varied to suit the particular individual and his or her particular physical build. The disclosed device makes it possible to repeatedly assume the same stance each time the disclosed device is used and to swing in a smooth, coordinated rhythmic pattern. I

It is, therefore, one object of this invention to provide a golf stroke practice device usable both inside and outside with equal convenience.

Another object of this invention is to provide a golf stroke practice device especially adapted to long hard fairway type of drives but which may be utilized in confined areas or indoors.

A further object of this invention is to provide a golf stroke device which automatically positions the golfer so that he assumes the same stance each stroke and indicates the strength and accuracy of his stroke.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a golf stroke practice device which may be adjusted for various stances of the golfers.

And it is a still further object of this invention to provide such a golf practice device with means for automatically returning the simulated ball to striking position immediately after the practice player has completed a stroke so that he can repetitiously and rapidly continue his practice strokes assuming the same stance each time with a minimum ofefiort.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. I is a plan view of the golf practice device incorporating the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of FIG. I with the top plate removed;

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of the bottom of FIG. 1 showing a means of locking in place the foot stance control mechanism;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 55 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention wherein a golf practice device 9 is shown comprising a frame including a base 10 which may be placed on the ground or floor surface 11, shown in FIG. 4, and may have two or more felt pads 12 secured to its groundor floor-engaging surface. These pads in combination with the adjustably mounted foot stance structure 13, later described, make it possible to secure device 9 to a floor or pavement surface. Base 10 comprises a baseplate 14 the top surface of which supports a top plate 15 separated by a spacer I7 secured between plates 14 and 15 by suitable bolts 18. A vertically disposed threaded shaft 19 is mounted between baseplate l4 and top plate I5. Fixed to shaft 19 and at least partially within base and top plates 14 and 15 are bearing surfaces for rotatably mounting a hub 22. Hub 22 surrounds shaft 19 between base and top plates 14 and I5 and is confined against vertical axial movement on shaft 19, by a nut and washer 19 and the bearing surfaces (not shown). A strike arm 23 is rigidly fixed and laterally extends from hub 22. At its outer end an appropriate resilient bumper or simulated ball 24 is fixedly secured and arranged to be hit by a golf club head used by a practicing player.

A return coil spring 27, located immediately above the top surface of baseplate l4 and below the bottom surface of the top plate 15, has its inner end 28 fixed to the hub 22 and its outer end fixed to pin 29 which in turn is fixed in the baseplate 14 so as to normally yieldingly swing the strike arm 23 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 1) up against a bumper 29' carried on spacer 17. The bumper is located between the juxtapositioned surfaces of plates 14 and 15.

An indicating diagram is painted on the upper surface of top plate 15 so that when a club head is swung hard against the simulated ball 24 to swing the strike arm to its maximum position, the diagram will indicate to the golfer a yardage assimilation of his stroke.

In order to develop a smooth, rhythmic motion each time a golfer swings, regular practice each day is necessary. A player must maintain his balance and have proper control of his club.

Since good golfers shift their weight from the right foot to the left foot during the swing to eliminate topped shots and slices, among other golfing errors, it is desirable to note this function of the player and to eliminate any other weight-shifting action during practice. One check of this condition is the feeling of release of tension in the right leg or foot. However, this condition is not readily noticeable to most players. Therefore, a need exists to note this condition and to position the feet of the golfer properly so that the preswing movements of the player may be repeated in the same or similar stance position each time.

In accordance with the invention claimed a foot stance structure 13 is attached to base 10 on its groundor floor-facing surface 30. This foot stance structure comprises a shaft or bar 3l having a peg 32 arranged at one end and laterially extending thereof for engaging and extending within one of a plurality of holes 33 arranged to extend inwardly from the ground-facing surface 30 of base 10. The other end of bar 31 is provided with a pad 34 which might be rubber or other resilient material for supporting the, left foot of a golfer.

A pivotally mounted link 35 is connected to bar 31 between its ends and is provided at its free end with a peg 36 which engages one of a plurality of holes 37 arranged in the bottom face 30 of base 10 in a manner similar to peg 32 in holes 33.

As readily seen from FIG. I the foot stance structure 13 may be arranged to assume a number of different positions by placing pegs 32 and 36 in different holes 33 and 37, respectively. Thus, the golfer may arrange the foot stance structure to assume a given position or one which most comfortably meets his physical needs. In each position, however, pad 34 indicates the position of his left foot.

When a golfer positions himself properly and swings he shifts his weight from his right foot to his left foot and he can feel the weight of his body on the pad of the foot stance structure, thus assuring himself of proper stance. Secondly the weight on the left foot helps maintain device 9 in a firm given position regardless of the driving force of the golfer.

In addition to aligning the golfer in the same or similar position each time the device is used, the foot stance structure also aids and helps control the club head path of movement, timing and balance of the golfer resulting in the club head being brought back squarely into the simulated ball 24.

Ball 24 is designed to assume a cylindrical configuration so that the user can align the club head along the length of the cylinder forming the similated golf ball. This is a further practice aid provided by the claimed device.

As noted from FIG. 3 a locking bar 38 may be added to the base of device 9 to hold the ends of bar 31 and link 35 together with their pegs 32 and 36 in place in holes 33 and 37. Any other suitable locking means may be provided if needed to move device 9 from one spot to another without disconnecting the foot stance structure.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that such mechanical arrangement and commercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein.

What we claim is;

l. A golf practice device comprising in combination a frame arranged to be placed on a horizontal surface, a hub vertically journaled on said frame for rotational movement, a radially extending strike arm fixed to said hub and having a simulated golf ball structure mounted on its outer end to be struck by a golf club to rotate said strike arm, a stop on said frame to limit rotation of said strike arm to a predetermined rotary position in a direction opposite from the direction of swinging of said strike arm when actuated by the golf club, spring means interacting between said frame and said strike arm to yieldingly hold said strike am at said predetermined position against said stop, and a foot stance structure extending from said frame for positioning the left foot of a user and holding the frame in a given place during golf club impact.

2. A golf practice device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said structure is detachably attached to extend laterally from said frame in a number of positions.

3. A golf practice device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said structure extends laterally from said device in a plurality of angular positions.

4. A golf practice device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said structure comprises an arm extending laterally from said frame and has a footpad arranged on it at its free end.

S. A golf practice device as set forth in claim 4 wherein adjusting means are provided for varying the distance of said pad from said frame.

l l II I t 

1. A golf practice device comprising in combination a frame arranged to be placed on a horizontal surface, a hub vertically journaled on said frame for rotational movement, a radially extending strike arm fixed to said hub and having a simulated golf ball structure mounted on its outer end to be struck by a golf club to rotate said strike arm, a stop on said frame to limit rotation of said strike arm to a predetermined rotary position in a direction opposite from the direction of swinging of said strike arm when actuated by the golf club, spring means interacting between said frame and said strike arm to yieldingly hold said strike arm at said predetermined position against said stop, and a foot stance structure extending from said frame for positioning the left foot of a user and holding the frame in a given place during golf club impact.
 2. A golf practice device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said structure is detachably attached to extend laterally from said frame in a number of positions.
 3. A golf practice device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said structure extends laterally from said device in a plurality of angular positions.
 4. A golf practice device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said structure comprises an arm extending laterally from said frame and has a footpad arranged on it at its free end.
 5. A golf practice device as set forth in claim 4 wherein adjusting means are provided for varying the distance of said pad from said frame. 